Theme: Cone Heads. Words that can be ahead of CONE.
52A. Classic "Saturday Night Live" family, with "the" ... and, literally, what the starts of the answers to starred clues can be : CONEHEADS
38A. *Rhinoplasty : NOSE JOB. Nose Cone
28D. *Freeway congestion : TRAFFIC JAM. Traffic Cone
20A. *Make easier to hear, as bad news : SUGAR COAT. Sugar Cone
11D. *Appliance that makes Eggos unnecessary : WAFFLE IRON. Waffle Cone
Argyle here. Nice pinwheel grid but marred slightly by the two ice cream cones instead of a forth type of cone.
Across:
1. Like a store ready for business : OPEN
5. Gadget for KP duty : PEELER
11. Part of www : WEB
14. Champagne Tony of golf : LEMA. His fame was cut short by his death in a plane crash in 1966.
15. Replacing, with "of" : IN LIEU
16. "__ we done here?" : ARE
17. Old pharmacy weight : DRAM. It's complicated.
18. Phonograph inventor : EDISON
19. Quaint "Tsk, tsk!" : "FIE!". "Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard?" ~ Lady Macbeth
22. Not as risky : SAFER
24. Misrepresents, as data : SKEWS
25. Veil of gloom : PALL
26. __ voce: softly : SOTTO. Lowish?
29. Kid gloves? : MITTENS
32. Unadulterated : PURE
33. Promotional bribe : PAYOLA
36. Novelist Fleming : IAN
37. Letter after zeta : ETA
39. Genetic letters : RNA
40. Terrier's welcome : [ARF!]
41. Writing fluid container : INKPOT
42. Laugh good and loud : ROAR
43. Removes impurities from : REFINES
45. Minister's home : MANSE
46. French cruise stops : ILES
47. Manuscript insertion mark : CARET
50. Emmy-winning daytime host Lake : RICKI
56. Modifying wd. : ADJ. (adjective)
57. Martial arts film star Chuck : NORRIS
59. Fingerprint, to a detective : CLUE
60. "Kampgrounds" chain : KOA. (Kampgrounds of America)
61. Most adorable : CUTEST
62. Not just ready and willing : ABLE
63. Big shade tree : ELM
64. Radiator sounds : HISSES. Not a good sound.
65. __ Springs, California : PALM
Down:
1. The "O" in REO cars : OLDS. (Ransom E. Olds)
2. Land of Lima and llamas : PERU. A little alliteration to start us off.
3. Kindle read, briefly : E-MAG
4. Word that ends many yoga classes : NAMASTE. Hindu's hello or goodbye accompanied by a suitable gesture.
5. Jigsaw puzzle unit : PIECE
6. Provide with funds : ENDOW
7. Sewing machine inventor Howe : ELIAS
8. "Schindler's __" : LIST
9. Fair-hiring abbr. : EEO. (Equal Employment Opportunity)
10. Gets credit from the bartender : RUNS A TAB
12. One of the Great Lakes : ERIE. What?! There are other Great Lakes?
13. Suds in a mug : BEER
21. "King Kong" studio : RKO. What RKO stands for here.
23. PC key : ALT
25. Show's first episode : PILOT
26. Asparagus unit : SPEAR
27. Very odd : OUTRE
29. Magic charm : MOJO
30. Family babysitters : NANAs
31. Hunter's trap : SNARE
33. Southern loaves : PONES. Sounds good.
34. Poses a poser : ASKS
35. Slangy affirmative : "YEP!"
38. Like the width of many foot-long envelopes : NINE INCH
42. Interest limitation : RATE CAP
44. Sort : ILK
45. "Doesn't thrill me" : "MEH"
47. Apple centers : CORES
48. Sambuca flavoring : ANISE
49. Enjoys a hammock : RESTS
50. Leaf-clearing tool : RAKE. I'd rather enjoy the hammock.
51. Superstar : IDOL
52. Old PC monitors : CRTs. (cathode ray tube)
53. Jessica of the "Fantastic Four" films : ALBA
54. Yawn-inducing : DULL
55. Outwardly appear : SEEM
58. Yves' yes : "OUI"
Argyle